The present study attempted to replicate a previously documented typology of perfectionism in a sample of college students (N=216). Furthermore, this study sought to determine whether a set of predictor variables comprised of selected subscales from the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS) and the College Adjustment Scales (CAS) could be used to reliably predict groups of perfectionists. Students' scores from the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) were entered into a two-step cluster analysis, which revealed four clusters: Mixed-Maladaptive (N=62), Pervasive (N=43), Mixed-Adaptive (N=53), and Non-Perfectionists (N=32). A standard discriminant analysis was then calculated, with measures of achievement goal orientation and psychological symptomatology serving as the independent variables, and perfectionism cluster group serving as the dependent variable. This analysis yielded two statistically significant discriminant functions. The first function, labeled Maladaptive Parental Influences, was comprised of two subscales which were related to students' perceptions of their relations with their parents. Pervasive perfectionists showed the highest mean value on the first function, while Non-Perfectionists were lowest. The second function, Intrapersonal Adaptive Outcomes, consisted of a total of seven subscales, four of which measured problem areas for the student, and showed a positive correlation with the overall function value. The other three subscales assessed traditionally adaptive-oriented concepts. Moreover, higher scores on these adaptive-oriented subscales showed a negative correlation with the overall function value, suggesting a lower function value reflected a healthier profile for the individual. As such, Mixed-Adaptive perfectionists showed the lowest mean value on the second function, while Mixed-Maladaptive perfectionists had the highest value. Of particular note, the Performance-Avoid subscale from the PALS was not found to significantly discriminate among the four perfectionism clusters, a surprising result given the conceptual similarities that the two constructs share with one another. However, an interesting new avenue in the study of the development of perfectionism is offered in the current study, whereby students' perceptions of their parents' achievement goals for them were empirically linked to their own manifestations of perfectionism, which had not been previously documented in the literature to the researcher's knowledge. / Department of Educational Psychology
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/176583 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Hanchon, Timothy A. |
| Contributors | Dixon, Felicia A. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | xiii, 190 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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